Highway safety marking device



Nov. 29, 1949 s. H. PELLAR HIGHWAY SAFETY MARKING DEVICE Filed April E, 1947 FIG. 5

|NvENToR. SIDNEY H.v PELLAR ATTORNEYS.

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Patented Nov. 29, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HIGHWAY SAFETY MARKING DEVICE Sidney H. Pellar, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 8, 1947, Serial No. 740,232

7 Claims.

A further object is to design a novel signal in the form of a lens assembly which is mounted in a pavement cavity.`

A still further object is to construct a novel -signal with efficient integral means :for reflecting light.v

An important object is to construct a novel signal along lines of compactness and simplicity. Briefly Iconsidered, my invention contemplates .a device in the form of a plug or the like adapted to be mounted in the surface of a pavement and `-molded f durable transparent material, such as glass or the like, and formed of a plurality of interlocking sectors, the inner faces of said sectors being correspondingly deformed so that they lmay be snugly interfitted when assembled, so as to provide a rugged, compact element which w1ll, for a long period of time, withstand the severe pressures of heavy road traflic without becoming broken or dislodged; at the same time, said in teriitting deformations Iwill serve effectively as light reflecting surfaces, so as to impart to an approaching driver a b-rilliant jewel-like effect which will instantly arrest'his attent1on. Said light reflecting effect may be enhance-d by mod1- fying said surfaces, as by application of silvering I Said deformations mayr take various forms, as, for example, by molding said inner surfaces in the form of prisms disposed in Vertical or horizontal planes or combinations thereof, or otherwise.

With the above objects in view, and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of xthe invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-section of one form of the impr-oved signal including ya portion of surrounding pavement;

Fig. 2 is a plan view;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of a modification;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a second modification;

Fig. 5 is an internal elevation of one component of the same;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section of .a third modification;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a fourth modification; and

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8--8 of Fig. 7.

Primarily, the novel signal is designed `with la multiple lens assembly. Thus, in the specific embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the signal is shown as a pair of cooperating semi-circular lens sectors H and l2 assembled along a diametrical line. The sectors may be plain or uncolored; or one may be green t0 indicate safety, while the other is red to indicate danger ahead. In addition, reflecting surfaces are employed to illuminate the lenses when they are in the path of light beams from the head lamps of approaching motor cars.

The contiguous inner surfaces l5 of the lenses Il and I2 occur on a diametrical line; and such surfaces are given silver coatings I6 t0 cause the signal to reflect light in opposite directions. Also, the lens assembly is convex above the ground as shown at I1, this feature lending the lens more Visibility and permitting the reflecting coatings I6 to be extended 4upwardly to increase their factors of visibility and reflection.

The signal just described is suitable for installation where only going and returning traffic iS involved. However, in the case of a crossing, it may 'be desirable to refiect light in four directions. Therefore, the lens assembly may also be made with quarter sections 23, as indicated Iat Fig. 3, and the contiguous surfaces of these coated for reflecting purposes.

Fig. 4 shows a modication in which means to diffuse the reflected light are contained. Thus, the inner surfaces of the lens sectors are formed with a series or horizontal ridges 22 which interlock. Also, a series of vertical ridges 22a -will intersect the horizontal ridges. These surfaces may be silvered; or, they may be lined with highly polished sheets 23 of tin, silver or aluminum foil. A gasket 24 of rubber is located between the foil sheets. The signal is extended -downwardly lwith a tapered portion 24a which is designed to be pressed into a cavity in the surface of the highway. The rubber sheet 24 will become compressed in this event, sealing the joint between the lenses against the entrance of dust and water. It is apparent that the ridged reflector formation will break -up :and spread the reflected light. Further, the interlocking of the ridges will prevent relative slippage of the lenses in vertical and lateral directions, so that the sign-al is always tight, and its gasket seal is unbroken.

Fig. 6 shows a modication employing a signal lens 25 -which is hollowed out in the center to receive .a silver coating 26. This coating therefore reflects light in all lateral directions.

Figs. 7 and 8 show a signal for the center of for the casting of reflected light as an indication of safety or danger to drivers. Further, the signals `are laid in the surface of the pavement" -ploy all such changes and refinements as may come within the scope and spirit of the appended fclaims.

I claim:

1. A signal for highway motor traflic comprising an assembly of lenses, the lower end portion of said assembly being mountable in a highway cavity, said assembly comprising a plurality of vcomplernental lenses disposed in abutting rela- .tion and separated along generally vertical '-planes, ridges formed on the abutting surf-aces of .said lenses for interlocking one lens with the other to prevent slippage and forming transparent prisms, and reflecting coatings on said abutting surfaces and applied along the vertical iine of separation to direct rays in opposite directions.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said ridges on each of the abutting surfaces extend in diiferent directions so as to prevent vertical as `well as horizontal relative slippage between said lenses.

3. A signal for highway motor trafhc, comprising an assembly of lenses, the lower portion of said assembly being mountable in a highway cavity, said assembly comprising a plurality of complemental lenses Ydisposed in abutting relation and separated along substantially vertical planes, means comprising interlocking portions formed in the abutting faces of said lenses for preventing slippage of said lenses, and reflecting coatings on the interlocked surfaces of each of said lenses to direct rays in various directions.

4. A signal for highway motor traiic, comprising an assembly of lenses, the lower portion of said assembly being mountable in a highway cavity, said assembly comprising a plurality of complemental lenses disposed in abutting relation and separated along substantially vertical planes, means comprising interlocking portions formed in the abutting faces of said lenses for preventing slippage of said lenses, and means disposed 'between vsaid lenses providing reflections therefrom.

5. A highway safety marking device comprising a plug-like member adapted to be inserted in the surface of a pavement and formed of molded transparent material, said member comprising a plurality of interlocking sectors, each of said sectors having inner surfaces disposed in generally vertical planes, portions of said surf-aces of adjacent sectors being correspondingly deformed from a vertical plane whereby adjacent sectors may intert with each other to provide a firm unit when the sectors are assembled, Iand means disposed between said sectors providing reections from said deformations.

6. An article as defined in claim 5, wherein said deformations form prisms disposed vertically and horizontally.

7. An article as defined in claim 5, wherein said means is a gasket.

SIDNEY H. PELLAR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,807,472 Dodge May 26, 193,1 1,903,748 Woolums et al Apr. 11, 1933 1,952,471 Stern et al Mar. 27, 1934 2,034,391 Hall Mar. 17, 1936 2,292,715 Peden Aug. 11, '1942 2,310,817 Taylor Feb. 9, 1943 2,328,407 Becker Aug. 31, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 118,809 Great Britain Sept. 12, 1918 422,554 Great Britain Jan. 16, 1935 

